Native American Heritage Month: November 2015 – Facts

WASHINGTON — The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, getting endorsements from 24 state governments, to have a day to honor American Indians.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994.

The U.S. Census released the following statistics in honor of November being American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month:

Population

5.4 millionThe nation’s population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race. They made up about 2 percent of the total population in 2014. Of this total, about 48 percent were American Indian and Alaska Native only, and about 52 percent were American Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races.
Source: 2014 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~009>

19.4%The proportion of Alaska’s population identified as American Indian and Alaska Native, alone or in combination, in 2014, the highest share for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed byOklahoma (13.5 percent), New Mexico (10.4 percent), South Dakota (10.1 percent) and Montana (8.0 percent). The estimates for New Mexico and South Dakota were not significantly different from one another.
Source: 2014 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/DP05/0100000US.04000>

326The number of federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2015. All in all, excluding Hawaiian Home Lands, there are 630 American Indian and Alaska Native legal and statistical areas for which theCensus Bureau provides statistics.
Source: Census Bureau Geography Division
<https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_aiannha.html>

1,788,853The number of American Indian and Alaska Native households in 2014 (households with a householder who was American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination with another race). Of these, 37.8 percent were married-couple families, including those with children.
Source: 2014 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~009>

82.4%The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone or in combination, 25 and older, who had at least a high school diploma, GED certificate or alternative credential in 2014. In addition, 18.5 percent obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. In comparison, 86.9 percent of the overall population, 25 and older, had a high school diploma or higher, and 30.1 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2014 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~009>

Note: The preliminary company summary provides estimates for the number of firms, receipts, employment and payroll by gender, ethnicity, race and veteran status at the U.S., state and sector levels. The final businesses and business owners will be released in December 2015.

Jobs

26.3%The percentage of civilian-employed, single-race American Indian and Alaska Native people, 16 and older, who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2014. In addition, 25.6 percent worked in service occupations and 22.3 percent in sales and office occupations. The percentage in management, business, science and arts occupations was not significantly different from the percentage in service occupations.
Source: 2014 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~006>